The teachers at The Lauterstein-Conway Massage School have skill, experience, and a true passion for Massage Therapy. Let’s take a moment to get to know one of the 500 hour program instructors.
Q&A with Jason Hammond
Q: When did you start your career in Massage Therapy?
A: I began working in 2008 at a massage franchise in North Austin.
Q: Why did you decide to become a Massage Therapist?
A: I was enrolled in acupuncture school and felt that massage therapy would be helpful to me as an acupuncturist. I wanted to improve my knowledge of anatomy and palpation. Even more than that, I really wasn’t very comfortable touching other people. Touching, or palpation, is an important part of the Chinese Medicine examination. We take the pulse, examine injured areas and feel to accurately locate the acupuncture points.
I thought that I would only do massage therapy for a year or two. My plan was to do massage until I got my acupuncture license and then switch over. Once I started working, I fell in love with doing massage! Now I get to use both massage and acupuncture to help my clients. I combine the two approaches and switch back and forth depending on the situation. I love the flexibility that the combination of approaches offers me to help my clients.
Q: What training and experience do you have in Massage Therapy?
A: I graduated from the licensing program at Lauterstein-Conway in 2007. I later returned to learn more in the Advanced Clinical Training program. I attended AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine from 2006-2010. At AOMA I learned Tui Na, or Chinese Medical Massage and earned a Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine degree. I am excited to continue learning, and I am currently studying Zero Balancing and working towards becoming a Certified Zero Balancing Practitioner. I worked in massage franchises for seven years, and have just recently shifted into private practice.
Q: What was your favorite aspect of Massage School?
A: Definitely getting to receive massage on a regular basis! It was such a transformative experience to receive massage so often and feel the benefits directly. I really gained an appreciation of the power of massage therapy from being on the table.
Q: Do you have a favorite modality? If so, what is it?
A: Right now I am pretty fascinated with Zero Balancing! The work seems so subtle, almost deceptively simple, but the results are profound. So many clients get off the table and say something like, “That was awesome! What did you do?” It’s pretty rewarding to see clients have that kind of experience.
Q: What is your approach to Massage Therapy?
A: Meet the client where they are. I always want my goal to come from the client. I ask them, “How can I help you today?” I try to understand what they want to get out the session and then exceed their expectations.
Q: What is your favorite color?
A: Green- I love it when everything starts growing again in March! The color of brand new leaves sprouting is amazing!
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Barbeque. Of course, I mean Texas Barbeque. I once moved away from Texas for five months, but immediately realized my mistake when I was unable to get a proper plate of Barbeque. Really.
Q: What kind of movies do you like?
A: I love science fiction. Anything with aliens and spaceships, I’m hooked. Big budgets and lots of special effects!
Q: Why do you think Massage Therapy is important?
A: Touch is so powerful, and yet we live in a world that is starved of it. Such a simple thing, but so powerful. Clients come in for an hour, and then they leave feeling better. I wish everyone could manage to get regular massage therapy!